Union defeated Valley with five balls to spare in the second round of the T20 competition in Oamaru on Friday night.
Albion beat Glenavy by 32 runs in the other game.
At King George Park, Valley won the toss and elected to bat.
Valley made a reasonable start but then collapsed to lose three wickets in three balls, then another an over later to leave them in trouble at 32 for four in the fifth over.
Sam Senior (22) and Harry Mavor (27) combined to steady the innings, but the push for the runs in the final overs struggled to accelerate.
Valley was all out for 128.
Union’s Blake James bowled well for his three for 33, Brad Fleming took two for 16 and Jake Greenslade picked up two for 4.
Valley then collected some early wickets to look like they were in the game.
But Kane Mclauchlan scored 27 at the top of the order, and James (39 not out) played an anchor role, while Brad Fleming’s 21 not helped lead them to victory. Union knocked off the target five down.
Opening bowler Tom Pitchford took two for 17.
At the Glenavy Domain, Albion decided to bat first, finishing with 152 for eight from their 20 overs.
Openers Albert Francis (34) and Tarras Beardsmore (21) got their side off to a good start, while college student Campbell Fowler top-scored with 48, including five sixes on the artificial wicket.
For the home side, Kurt Thomas took three for 30, Ryan Moffat two for 18 and Zach Graham two for 34.
In their reply, Glenavy lost wickets in clumps as they struggled to put together partnerships to mount a serious chase.
Graham (36) was the only batsman to make a score of note, as his side was bowled all out for 120.
Albion’s Aneesh Bose took four for 13, including the final two wickets in consecutive balls, and Fowler took two for 14.
— Scott Cameron
